← The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

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Chapter companions for The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne.

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  1. Chapter 1

    Epigraph

    The epigraph presents a Greek maxim from Epictetus, stating that it is not events themselves that disturb people, but their judgments about those events.

  2. Chapter 2

    To the Right Honourable Mr. Pitt

    The author dedicates his work to Mr. Pitt, expressing modest hopes for the dedication and explaining that he writes in a retired thatched house, using mirth to fend against ill health and life's evils. He asks only that the book may make Mr. Pitt smile or beguile a moment's pain, which would make him as happy as a minister of state.

  3. Chapter 3

    The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

    The opening chapter introduces Tristram Shandy as the narrator, who humorously laments the circumstances of his conception and birth, setting the stage for a digressive and self-reflective narrative that explores the absurdities of life, family, and storytelling.

  4. Chapter 4

    Book I

    The narrator, Tristram Shandy, begins his life story but is immediately sidetracked by digressions on conception, the influence of parents' thoughts at the moment of procreation, and the hobbyhorses of his father Walter and Uncle Toby. The chapter introduces the Shandy family's eccentricities, including Walter's obsession with noses and names, and Toby's preoccupation with military fortifications stemming from his wound at the Siege of Namur.

  5. Chapter 5

    Chapter I

    The narrator reflects on his inability to reach the story of Uncle Toby's amours until now, when his mother's curiosity leads her to peek through a keyhole. This triggers a philosophical and humorous dispute between his parents about motives and propriety, culminating in a reflection on keyholes and sin.

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  1. Chapter 6Chapter II
  2. Chapter 7Chapter III
  3. Chapter 8Chapter IV
  4. Chapter 9V
  5. Chapter 10Chapter VI
  6. Chapter 11Chapter VII
  7. Chapter 12Chapter VIII
  8. Chapter 13Chapter IX
  9. Chapter 14Chapter X
  10. Chapter 15Chapter XI
  11. Chapter 16Chapter XII
  12. Chapter 17Chapter XIII
  13. Chapter 18Chapter XIV
  14. Chapter 19XV
  15. Chapter 20Chapter XVI
  16. Chapter 21Chapter XVII
  17. Chapter 22Chapter XVIII
  18. Chapter 23Chapter XIX
  19. Chapter 24Chapter XX
  20. Chapter 25Chapter XXI
  21. Chapter 26Chapter XXII
  22. Chapter 27Chapter XXIII
  23. Chapter 28Chapter XXIV
  24. Chapter 29XXV
  25. Chapter 30Book II
  26. Chapter 31Chapter I
  27. Chapter 32Chapter II
  28. Chapter 33Chapter III
  29. Chapter 34Chapter IV
  30. Chapter 35V
  31. Chapter 36Chapter VI
  32. Chapter 37Chapter VII
  33. Chapter 38Chapter VIII
  34. Chapter 39Chapter IX
  35. Chapter 40Chapter X
  36. Chapter 41Chapter XI
  37. Chapter 42Chapter XII
  38. Chapter 43Chapter XIII
  39. Chapter 44Chapter XIV
  40. Chapter 45XV
  41. Chapter 46Chapter XVI
  42. Chapter 47Chapter XVII
  43. Chapter 48Chapter XVIII
  44. Chapter 49Chapter XIX
  45. Chapter 50Book III
  46. Chapter 51Chapter I
  47. Chapter 52Chapter II
  48. Chapter 53Chapter III
  49. Chapter 54Chapter IV
  50. Chapter 55V
  51. Chapter 56Chapter VI
  52. Chapter 57Chapter VII
  53. Chapter 58Chapter VIII
  54. Chapter 59Chapter IX
  55. Chapter 60Chapter X
  56. Chapter 61XI: Excommunicatio
  57. Chapter 62Chapter XI
  58. Chapter 63Chapter XII
  59. Chapter 64Chapter XIII
  60. Chapter 65Chapter XIV
  61. Chapter 66XV
  62. Chapter 67Chapter XVI
  63. Chapter 68Chapter XVII
  64. Chapter 69Chapter XVIII
  65. Chapter 70Chapter XIX
  66. Chapter 71Chapter XX
  67. Chapter 72The Author's Preface
  68. Chapter 73Chapter XXI
  69. Chapter 74Chapter XXII
  70. Chapter 75Chapter XXIII
  71. Chapter 76Chapter XXIV
  72. Chapter 77XXV
  73. Chapter 78Chapter XXVI
  74. Chapter 79Chapter XXVII
  75. Chapter 80Chapter XXVIII
  76. Chapter 81Chapter XXIX
  77. Chapter 82Chapter XXX
  78. Chapter 83Chapter XXXI
  79. Chapter 84Chapter XXXII
  80. Chapter 85Chapter XXXIII
  81. Chapter 86Chapter XXXIV
  82. Chapter 87Chapter XXXV
  83. Chapter 88Chapter XXXVI
  84. Chapter 89Chapter XXXVII
  85. Chapter 90XXXVIII
  86. Chapter 91Chapter XXXIX
  87. Chapter 92Chapter XL
  88. Chapter 93Chapter XLI
  89. Chapter 94XLII
  90. Chapter 95Book IV
  91. Chapter 96Slawkenbergii Fabella
  92. Chapter 97Slawkenbergius's Tale
  93. Chapter 98Chapter I
  94. Chapter 99Chapter II
  95. Chapter 100Chapter III
  96. Chapter 101Chapter IV
  97. Chapter 102V
  98. Chapter 103Chapter VI
  99. Chapter 104Chapter VII
  100. Chapter 105Chapter VIII
  101. Chapter 106Chapter IX
  102. Chapter 107Chapter X
  103. Chapter 108Chapter XI
  104. Chapter 109Chapter XII
  105. Chapter 110Chapter XIII
  106. Chapter 111Chapter XIV
  107. Chapter 112XV
  108. Chapter 113Chapter XVI
  109. Chapter 114Chapter XVII
  110. Chapter 115Chapter XVIII
  111. Chapter 116Chapter XIX
  112. Chapter 117My Father's Lamentation
  113. Chapter 118Chapter XX
  114. Chapter 119Chapter XXI
  115. Chapter 120Chapter XXII
  116. Chapter 121Chapter XXIII
  117. Chapter 122XXV
  118. Chapter 123Chapter XXVI
  119. Chapter 124Chapter XXVII
  120. Chapter 125Chapter XXVIII
  121. Chapter 126Chapter XXIX
  122. Chapter 127Chapter XXX
  123. Chapter 128Chapter XXXI
  124. Chapter 129Chapter XXXII
  125. Chapter 130Book V
  126. Chapter 131To the Right Honourable John, Lord Viscount Spencer
  127. Chapter 132Chapter I
  128. Chapter 133Upon Whiskers
  129. Chapter 134The Fragment
  130. Chapter 135Chapter II
  131. Chapter 136Chapter III
  132. Chapter 137Chapter IV
  133. Chapter 138V
  134. Chapter 139Chapter VI
  135. Chapter 140Chapter VII
  136. Chapter 141Chapter VIII
  137. Chapter 142Chapter IX
  138. Chapter 143Chapter X
  139. Chapter 144Chapter XI
  140. Chapter 145Chapter XII
  141. Chapter 146Chapter XIII
  142. Chapter 147Chapter XIV
  143. Chapter 148XV
  144. Chapter 149Chapter XVI
  145. Chapter 150Chapter XVII
  146. Chapter 151Chapter XVIII
  147. Chapter 152Chapter XIX
  148. Chapter 153Chapter XX
  149. Chapter 154Chapter XXI
  150. Chapter 155Chapter XXII
  151. Chapter 156Chapter XXIII
  152. Chapter 157Chapter XXIV
  153. Chapter 158XXV
  154. Chapter 159Chapter XXVI
  155. Chapter 160Chapter XXVII
  156. Chapter 161Chapter XXVIII
  157. Chapter 162Chapter XXIX
  158. Chapter 163Chapter XXX
  159. Chapter 164Chapter XXXI
  160. Chapter 165Chapter XXXII
  161. Chapter 166Chapter XXXIII
  162. Chapter 167Chapter XXXIV
  163. Chapter 168Chapter XXXV
  164. Chapter 169Chapter XXXVI
  165. Chapter 170Chapter XXXVII
  166. Chapter 171XXXVIII
  167. Chapter 172Chapter XXXIX
  168. Chapter 173Chapter XL
  169. Chapter 174Chapter XLI
  170. Chapter 175XLII
  171. Chapter 176XLIII
  172. Chapter 177Book VI
  173. Chapter 178Chapter I
  174. Chapter 179Chapter II
  175. Chapter 180Chapter III
  176. Chapter 181Chapter IV
  177. Chapter 182V
  178. Chapter 183The Story of Le Fever
  179. Chapter 184VII: The Story of Le Fever Continued
  180. Chapter 185VIII: The Story of Le Fever Continued
  181. Chapter 186Chapter IX
  182. Chapter 187X: The Story of Le Fever Continued
  183. Chapter 188Chapter XI
  184. Chapter 189Chapter XII
  185. Chapter 190Chapter XIII
  186. Chapter 191Chapter XIV
  187. Chapter 192XV
  188. Chapter 193Chapter XVI
  189. Chapter 194Chapter XVII
  190. Chapter 195Chapter XVIII
  191. Chapter 196Chapter XIX
  192. Chapter 197Chapter XX
  193. Chapter 198Chapter XXI
  194. Chapter 199Chapter XXII
  195. Chapter 200Chapter XXIII
  196. Chapter 201Chapter XXIV
  197. Chapter 202XXV
  198. Chapter 203Chapter XXVI
  199. Chapter 204Chapter XXVII
  200. Chapter 205Chapter XXVIII
  201. Chapter 206Chapter XXIX
  202. Chapter 207Chapter XXX
  203. Chapter 208Chapter XXXI
  204. Chapter 209My Uncle Toby’s Apologetical Oration
  205. Chapter 210Chapter XXXIII
  206. Chapter 211Chapter XXXIV
  207. Chapter 212Chapter XXXV
  208. Chapter 213Chapter XXXVI
  209. Chapter 214Chapter XXXVII
  210. Chapter 215XXXVIII
  211. Chapter 216Chapter XXXIX
  212. Chapter 217Chapter XL
  213. Chapter 218Book VII
  214. Chapter 219Chapter I
  215. Chapter 220Chapter II
  216. Chapter 221Chapter III
  217. Chapter 222Chapter IV
  218. Chapter 223V
  219. Chapter 224Chapter VI
  220. Chapter 225Chapter VII
  221. Chapter 226Chapter VIII
  222. Chapter 227Chapter IX
  223. Chapter 228Chapter X
  224. Chapter 229Chapter XI
  225. Chapter 230Chapter XII
  226. Chapter 231Chapter XIII
  227. Chapter 232Chapter XIV
  228. Chapter 233XV
  229. Chapter 234Chapter XVI
  230. Chapter 235Chapter XVII
  231. Chapter 236Chapter XVIII
  232. Chapter 237Chapter XIX
  233. Chapter 238Chapter XX
  234. Chapter 239Chapter XXI
  235. Chapter 240Chapter XXII
  236. Chapter 241Chapter XXIII
  237. Chapter 242Chapter XXIV
  238. Chapter 243XXV
  239. Chapter 244Chapter XXVI
  240. Chapter 245Chapter XXVII
  241. Chapter 246Chapter XXVIII
  242. Chapter 247Chapter XXIX
  243. Chapter 248Chapter XXX
  244. Chapter 249Chapter XXXI
  245. Chapter 250Chapter XXXII
  246. Chapter 251Chapter XXXIII
  247. Chapter 252Chapter XXXIV
  248. Chapter 253Chapter XXXV
  249. Chapter 254Chapter XXXVI
  250. Chapter 255Chapter XXXVII
  251. Chapter 256XXXVIII
  252. Chapter 257Chapter XXXIX
  253. Chapter 258Chapter XL
  254. Chapter 259Chapter XLI
  255. Chapter 260XLII
  256. Chapter 261XLIII
  257. Chapter 262Book VIII
  258. Chapter 263Chapter I
  259. Chapter 264Chapter II
  260. Chapter 265Chapter III
  261. Chapter 266Chapter IV
  262. Chapter 267V
  263. Chapter 268Chapter VI
  264. Chapter 269Chapter VII
  265. Chapter 270Chapter VIII
  266. Chapter 271Chapter IX
  267. Chapter 272Chapter X
  268. Chapter 273Chapter XI
  269. Chapter 274Chapter XII
  270. Chapter 275Chapter XIII
  271. Chapter 276Chapter XIV
  272. Chapter 277XV
  273. Chapter 278Chapter XVI
  274. Chapter 279Chapter XVII
  275. Chapter 280Chapter XVIII
  276. Chapter 281Chapter XIX
  277. Chapter 282Chapter XX
  278. Chapter 283Chapter XXI
  279. Chapter 284Chapter XXII
  280. Chapter 285Chapter XXIII
  281. Chapter 286Chapter XXIV
  282. Chapter 287XXV
  283. Chapter 288Chapter XXVI
  284. Chapter 289Chapter XXVII
  285. Chapter 290Chapter XXVIII
  286. Chapter 291Chapter XXIX
  287. Chapter 292Chapter XXX
  288. Chapter 293Chapter XXXI
  289. Chapter 294Chapter XXXII
  290. Chapter 295Chapter XXXIII
  291. Chapter 296Chapter XXXIV
  292. Chapter 297Chapter XXXV
  293. Chapter 298Book IX
  294. Chapter 299A Dedication to a Great Man
  295. Chapter 300Chapter I
  296. Chapter 301Chapter II
  297. Chapter 302Chapter III
  298. Chapter 303Chapter IV
  299. Chapter 304V
  300. Chapter 305Chapter VI
  301. Chapter 306Chapter VII
  302. Chapter 307Chapter VIII
  303. Chapter 308Chapter IX
  304. Chapter 309Chapter X
  305. Chapter 310Chapter XI
  306. Chapter 311Chapter XII
  307. Chapter 312Chapter XIII
  308. Chapter 313Chapter XIV
  309. Chapter 314XV
  310. Chapter 315Chapter XVI
  311. Chapter 316Chapter XVII
  312. Chapter 317Chapter XVIII
  313. Chapter 318Chapter XIX
  314. Chapter 319Chapter XX
  315. Chapter 320Chapter XXI
  316. Chapter 321Chapter XXII
  317. Chapter 322Chapter XXIII
  318. Chapter 323Chapter XXIV
  319. Chapter 324The Invocation
  320. Chapter 325XXV
  321. Chapter 326The Eighteenth Chapter
  322. Chapter 327Chapter the Nineteenth
  323. Chapter 328Chapter XXVI
  324. Chapter 329Chapter XXVII
  325. Chapter 330Chapter XXVIII
  326. Chapter 331Chapter XXIX
  327. Chapter 332Chapter XXX
  328. Chapter 333Chapter XXXI
  329. Chapter 334Chapter XXXII
  330. Chapter 335Chapter XXXIII
  331. Chapter 336Endnotes
  332. Chapter 337List of Illustrations